Cutting and welding machine



1939- 'J. H. BUCKNAM El AL 2,133,605

CUTTING AND WELDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS JAMES H. B UCKNAM ALFRED JI MILLER ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1939. BUCKNAM r AL 2,183,605

CUTTING AND WELDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IOO M P g INVENTORS JAMES H. BUCKNAM BY ALFREDJT MILLER ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1939. J. H. BUCKNAM n AL" 2,183,605

CUTTING AND WELDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS W M I JAMES H. BUCKNAM I ALFREDIM/LLER AH! I BY ,i W

ATTORNEY 1939. J. H. BUCKNAM Er AL 2,183,605

CUTTING AND WELDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 1935' 7 SheetQ-Sheet s INVENTORS JAMES H. BUCKNAM ATTORNEY BY ALFREDJ. MILLER V Dec. 19, 1939. J. H. BUCKNAM ET AL CUTTING AND WELDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 BY ALFPEDI MILLER ATTORNEY 1939- J. HQ'BUCKNAM ETAL 2,183,605

CUTTING AND WELDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS JAMES H. BUCKNAM ALFRED J'. MILLER ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTING AND WELDING MACHINE Application January 12, 1935, Serial No. 1,470

36 Claims.

This invention relates to cutting, welding, and flame-machining machines, having special reference to small portable machines comprising a self-propelled wheeled carriage supporting one or more torches or blowpipes for cutting, welding, and machining by means of an oxy-fuel flame. However, certain features of the invention are applicable to other types of cutting, welding, and

I machining equipment and processes.

Generally, the object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character indicated which shall be efficient and flexible in operation in both the travel of the carriage and the adjustment of the blowpipes thereon, and simple and convenient to manipulate, so that the machine shall have a wide range of usefulness.

More specifically, the objects of this invention are to provide a machine of the character indicated in which all the motor and driving mechanism shall be well protected and the gearing shall be completely enclosed in a dust-proof casing to minimize lubrication and maintenance costs; in which the weight shall be light and yet so distributed that the center of gravity is sufiiciently low to prevent over-balancing by any adjustments of the blowpipes; which shall be capable of rectilinear travel on a track and universal travel on the surface of the work, either hand or automatically guided, over a wide range of speeds; which shall have a two-wheel drive for both rectilinear and curvilinear travel; which shall support at least one torch or blowpipe or similar tool capable of at least two independent universal adjustments through swivels and conveniently located handwheels, or at least two blcwpipes capable of independent universal adjustment which may be positioned apart or to gether at either side or in front of the machine, or at least two blowpipes mounted on a single turntable and cross arm and still capable of independent universal adjustment; and which shall support at least one blowpipe or similar tool in such a manner that it may be directed against the edge of or underneath the work on which the machine is operating.

These and other objects, together with the novel features of this invention which achieve these objects, will appear in the following description having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a machine embodying the principles of this invention, showing the machine traveling on a track making a rectilinear cut;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, showing the machine traveling on the surface of the work making a circular cut guided by a radius rod;

3 is a partial front end view of the machine, showing the machine traveling on a track and preparing an edge for welding by a special 5 adjustment;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the inside of the machine, showing part of the wheel support, part of the motor, part of the driving mechanism, and the cover of the casing or carriage in section; 10

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the differential and part of the neutral, forward, and reverse mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, showing part of the drive mechanism; 15

Fig. 7 is a section on the line l':' of Fig. 5 showing the axle driving gear and pinions;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 3-8 of Fig. 5, showing the diiferential locking device;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4, 2 showing part of the driving mechanism, the gear shift and the neutral, forward, and reverse levers, and the rear ball skid construction;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through the vertical axis of the turntable, showing the cross 5 arm and adjusting mechanism in transverse section;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section through the vertical axis of the turntable, showing the cross arm and adjusting mechanism in longitudinal sec- 30 tion;

Fig. 12 is a plan View of the turntable, cross arm, and torch-supporting mechanism, showing certain portions in section;

13 is a plan View, partly in section, show- 35 ing the detail of the radius rod construction and attachment;

Fig. is is a plan view of the guide bracket for directing the machine along a predetermined rectilinear or curvilinear path by means of a 49 single track or template when the machine travels on the surface of the work;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line l5l5 of Fig. 14, showing the method of attaching the guide bracket to the casing or carriage of the ma- 45 chine;

Fig. 16 is a section on the line l6-IS of Fig. 14, showing the adjustable roller follower construction of the guide bracket;

17 is a side elevation of a modified form of guide bracket, having means for vertically adjusting the bracket;

Fig. 18 is a section on the line l8-l8 of Fig. 17, showing the method of attaching the guide 55 bracket to the carriage or casing of the machine; and

Fig. 19 is a section on the line l9|9 of Fig. 17, showing the means for vertically adjusting the guide bracket.

As shown, a machine embodying the principles of this invention comprises a box-like, wheelsupported carriage or casing C capable of traveling on a track T (Fig. l) or on the surface of the work W (Fig. 2) and having arranged therein a motor lVI, controlled by a governor G, and an axle A and gear mechanism for transmitting power from the motor M to at least one of the wheels comprising the wheel support. The governor G may preferably be of the conventional centrifugal make-and-break type, adjustable by a graduated dial D projecting through an opening in the rear end of the casing C. The motor may be supplied with current through a power line L and may be started and stopped by a line switch S projecting through the casing C. The gear mechanism includes speed change gears gears which may conveniently be shifted by a lever L projecting through the casing C, a combination neutral, forward, and reverse mechanism, conveniently operated by a lever L projecting through the casing C, and a differential F, permitting curvilinear drive through both wheels, which may be locked for rectilinear drive by means of a knob K, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described. The carriage may have a conveniently located handle H for carrying it and for guiding the machine by hand when it travels directly on the surface of the work.

The machine thus is capable of a variety of rectilinear and curvilinear cutting and welding operations on either horizontal, vertical, or inclined work, traveling either on a track as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, or directly on the surface of the work as shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 3, the machine is shown operating on the edge of the work with the blowpipe B swung below the carriage by means of a special attachment. In Fig. 2 the machine is shown performing a circular cut guided by a radius rod R. However, the machine is capable of other curvilinear travel on the surface of the work, either hand guided by means of the handle H, or automatically guided by means of a guide bracket E or E secured to the lug where the radius rod may be attached, as shown in Figs. 14 and 17. In all these operations, the differential F makes possible two-wheel drive. When the machine travels directly on the surface of the work, the rear end is preferably adjustably supported by additional or auxiliary supporting means such as one or more casters or a ball skid P (Fig. 9), which keeps the rear wheels out of contact with the work and permits ready universal motion of the carriage over the work.

The carriage may support a turret or turntable movable about a vertical axis which in turn slidably supports a cross arm having a bracket at at least one end thereof slidably mounted in a vertical guide and provided with a clamp or torch holder for holding a blowpipe B or similar tool. The cross arm may also have slidably and rotatably mounted thereon an auxiliary cross arm having a bracket at the end thereof slidably mounted in a vertical guide and provided with a clamp or torch holder for holding a blowpipe B or similar tool. Each of these brackets is independently adjustable rectilinearly and rotationally in a horizontal plane and rectilinearly in a vertical plane so that each bracket is capable of independent universal movement.

Also, the auxiliary cross arm may be held stationary relatively to the main cross arm, in which case both brackets move rectilinearly and rotationally in a horizontal plane with the main cross arm. The blowpipe clamps may be swiveled in two mutually perpendicular planes so that the blowtorches may be tilted at any angle in any direction, and the blowpipes may also be slidably adjusted in their clamps, so that they are capable of independent universal movement independently of the independent universal movement of the brackets, which also move the torches. Each torch is therefore independently capable of two independent universal adjustments, which makes the machine extremely flexible and convenient for adjustment to any type of operation on horizontal, vertical, or inclined work.

The carriage or casing C comprises an upper box-like cover 29 telescoping over and interfitting with a lower box-like base 2!. The cover 2!] is provided with an overhanging apron 22 surrounding and protecting the entire machine, hollow bosses 23 covering the wheels, a hollow boss 24 housing the motor and providing a convenient support for the handle H, and a lug 25havingmachined sides 2% thereon and an opening 21 therethrough for attaching a radius rod R. (Fig. 13) or a guide bracket E or E (Figs. 14 and 1'7). The radius rod is so fitted that it is capable of pivotal movement in a vertical plane only. The handle H comprises a grip 28 cast integral with an annular securing flange 28 which extends around the outer end of the motor-governor assembly, and may conveniently be secured by any suitable means, such as screws 28", to the end of the hollow boss 25. The grip is thus located directly at the center of the rear end of the machine for convenience in carrying and guiding it. The cover 26 is divided into two compartments by a partition 29 which has a machined edge 30 in the same plane and continues with a similar machined edge 31 on an internal ledge or wall 32. The base 21 is divided into two compartments by a partition 33 having an upper machined edge 34 which abuts the machined edge 30 of the partition 29 in the cover. The machined edge 34 is in the same plane and continuous with a similar machined edge 35 on the side and front walls of the base 2!, which abuts the machined edge CH of the ledge or wall 32 in the cover. The abutting edges may have a gasket 35' between them to insure an oiland dust-proof fit. The cover 26 and the base 2! may be held in the proper relative alignment by spacing bosses 36 and may be removably secured together by any suitable means, such as screws 31. There is thus provided a dust-proof compartment for housing the gearing in the forward end of the carriage or casing C. In the rear of the casing, however, the walls of the cover and base do not meet, so that this compartment for housing the motor is ventilated so that the motor may be air-cooled. The base 2! may also be provided with a removable bottom plate 38 beneath the dust-proof forward compartment, held in place by screws 39. This plate provides ready access to the gearing and driving axle for lubrication and repairs. The cover 26 also may be removed from the base if for gaining ready access to the entire inside of the casing. Within the casing are suitable bosses, brackets, and bearings, for supporting the axles and driving mechanism as will hereinafter more fully appear. Both the cover 20 and the base 2! of the casing C and the handle H are preferably metal castings.

The carriage or casing C may be supported by front driving wheels l5; and 46', secured by any suitable means to the driving axle A, and by rear idler wheels as and The wheels 46 and ll on one side of the carriage are provided with grooved. bearing surface for following the track T while the other two wheels and il have fiat single flanged bearing surfaces to permit of a certain amount of lateral movement over the track tread surface and compensate for lateral inaccuracies. The front wheels ii: and #9 are also provided with raised knurled surfaces for giving added traction when the machine travels on the surface of the work.

One of the rear wheels may be provided with an eccentric shaft 42 to permit the wheel to be adjusted vertically. Due to manufacturing inaccuracies, the bearin surfaces of all four wheels may not be in the same piane, and such a vertical adjustment readily compensates for such inaccuracies. Also, twisting or warping of the track may require some vertical adjustment or resilient movement of one of the wheel mountings to produce four-point support. Furthermore, when only one blowpipe is used, or when both blowpipes are swung to one side of the machine, the weight is concentrated on the drivine wheel nearest the blowpipe with the result that th opposite driving wheel loses traction, and this can be equalized by vertical adjustment of one of the r ar wheels. The ec-- centric shaft :42 may be turned about its axis in the opening through boss of the casing to raise or lower the whee t! which bears turns on the eccentric portion of the shaft. The shaft may be secured in any desired position by any suitable means, such as a set screw it, screwed into an internally threaded hole tl rough the bottom of the casing.

When the machine travels directly on the surface of the work, the rear wheels fi l and a l are lifted ofi the surface of the work and the rear end of the casing is supported by the ball skid P (Figs. 4 and 9). This skid may comprise a rounded hardened steel head and a threaded shank at which screws into an internally threaded hole through the bottom of the casing at the center of the rear end thereof. The ball skid may be adjusted vertically screwing it either in or out to insure that the rear wheels are at all times lifted off the surface of the work, and may be held at any setting by means of a lock nut @l'. The friction between the hardened steel heads-'35 of the skid and the surface of the work is comparatively slight especially since the greater portion of the we ht of the machine is concentrated in the for ard end. The support thus permits ready universal motion of the machine when it travels directly the surface of the work.

Power for driving the machine may con eniently be supplied by an electric motor M housed in the ventilated compartment in the rear end of the casing C. The motor may be mounted on bosses by suitable means, such as screws all, with its armature shaft horizonta o may be regulated by the adjustable governor G which is preferably of the centrifugal make-an break type and may be adjusted by a knob 55 which turns the graduated dial D. The dial I) may desirably be graduated in inches per minute of travel of the machine and may have two sets of figures, one for high and one for low By setting this dial, using the scale which represents the gear in which the machine is operating, the governor may be adjusted to hold the motor speed constant at a definite value which in turn Will cause the machine to travel at the speed indicated on the scale. Thus the macl may be caused to operate at any desired predetermined speed from about 2 to about 50 inches per minute. The use of speed change gears as well as an adjustable motor governor for speed regulation makes possible a wide range of speeds without too great a variation in the motor speed. This increases the operating eficiency of the motor.

Power from the motor M is transmitted to 7 driving axle A through a train of gears housed within the dust-proof compartment the forward end of the casing C. The motor armatr e shaft 53 extends through an opening in the r tition 33 of the base 2! of the casing C and may be secured to a worm 68 by means of a screw N. The wormv 50 may be supported ii a roller bearing 62 fixed in a bracket or cro brace of the base 2| of the casing drives a cooperating worm wheel secure the upper end of a vertical shaft w'iic supported at its upper end in a bearing nxe in a bracket 51 cast integral with the Lde o the base 25 of the casing and at its lower e, in a bearing 58 in a bracket 58 secured by s able means, such as screws '1 l, to lugs project ing from the inner wall of the base 2! of the casing C. Secured to the lower end of the shalt 65 turning with it is a gear wheel 1? win. drives a cooperating gear Wheel 1-3 secured to the lower end of a worm is which is supported its lower end in a bearing 2'5 in the h acket 35 and at its upper end in a bearing in the bracket The gear wheel '53 is prei made of compressed fabric to minimize v tion and noise. Cooperating with the worm 7 is a worm wheel 7'! rotatably mounted on a '18 which is rotatably mounted at one end bearing H3 in the cross brace 83 and at the end in a bearing 80 in the end wall of the b. c 2i of the casing C and at an intermediate point in a bearing 8! in a bracket or cross brace of the base 21 of the casing C. Both the worm wheel 54 and the worm wheel 57 are preferably made of bronze for obtaining the desirable bronze-steel contact between the worm wheels and the respective worms meshing therewith. Secured to and turning with the worm w" is a gear wheel 83 which cooperates wit in ct wheel 84 slidably but not rotatably no nte on a shaft 335 and having a bearing 86 in the crosbrace 33. Fixed to the shaft 85 are gear wh els 87 and 88 cooperating with gear wheels 90 respectively, secured to the shaft W for rotating this shaft;

The shaft 85 is slidab v mounted wit in hub of the gear wheel 34 and slidably :7 bly mounted in a bearing 95 in the cross and may be shifted forward or back means of the lever L which is pivoted to one casing at 82 and joined the shaft through the yoke 93. The lower end of the lever L may contact a flat spring 94 secured to the partition cutting and welding operations.

33 by screws t5 to hold the lever ineither the high gear or low gear position. In the high gear position the gear wheel 87 meshes with and drives the gear wheel 89 as shown, while in the low gear position the shaft is shifted back and. the gear wheel 88 meshes withand drives the gear wheel 90.

to the driving axle A through a conveniently arranged neutral, forward, and reverse mechanism. Two gear wheels and ill are fixedly mounted on a hollow shaft or hub 98 which is slidably but not rotatably mounted on the shaft l8. As shown in Fig. 4, the mechanism is in the neutral position. By sliding the shaft Q3 forward, the gear wheel 9". is caused to mesh with a gear wheel 99 mounted in a bearing in a boss Illil in the end wall of the base of the casing (Fig. '7). A bevel gear IEII fixed to the gear wheel 99 cooperates with a bevel gear Ill? which drives the axle A in the forward direction. Similarly, by sliding the shaft 98 back, the gear wheel at is caused to mesh with a gear wheel Hi3 mountedin a bearing in a boss Ill l in the cross brace 82. A bevel gear I55 fixed to the gear wheel M3 cooperates with the bevel gear I62 which then drives the axle A in the reverse direction.

The neutral, forward, and reverse mechanism may conveniently be operated by a lever I95 pivoted at Ifll on a bracket Iilll secured to a boss I59 of the base 2! of the casing. The lever I55 may be coupled with the shaft 88 through a yoke H5 and is actuated by a rod Ill coupled to the lever I86 by a pin H2. The rod Ill in turn is actuated by the lever L (Fig. 9) pivoted to the casing at I I3 and coupled to the rod I I I by a pin I I l. The red I I l passes through an opening I I5 in the partition 33 of the casing which may preferably be sealed dust-proof by a felt packing IIB as shown. It is thus seen that shifting the lever L" forward will cause the machine to-travel forward and shifting this lever backward will cause the machine to travel in reverse. The lever may conveniently be held in the neutral, forward, or reverse position by means of a pressed spring I ll secured beneath the bracket M8 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The end of the lever lllt catches in either the center depression of the spring II! or in the depressions at either side thereof.

Suitable mechanism may be provided for allowing each of the driving wheels 55 and til to move relatively to the other while still transmittingpower to both, so that the machine will have two wheel drive for both rectilinear and curvilinear Such mechanism may conveniently be provided by a differential F of well-known construction. The bevel gear If)? is secured to and turns the differential frame or casing I it and each of the wheels ill and 40' turns with one of the bevel gears l2il and I20 of the differential. The construction is so well-known that it need not be further described. However, in certain applications of the machine, as in straight line operations, it may be desirable to render the differential inoperative so that both driving wheels turn together as if on a continuous shaft. This may conveniently be accomplished by means of the locking device shown in Figs. 5 and 8. The differential frame or casing H5 is provided with a countersunk recess H9 behind the bevel gear I25 which is secured to a hollow drive shaft lit for driving the wheel ill. In the recess H9 and around the drive shaft I2I is disposed a split ring I22 which may be spread by means of a conical pin or cam I23 slidably Power may be transmitted from the shaft I8 mounted in an opening through the shaft I21. A shaft I 24 having the handle or knob K secured thereto and rotatably mounted within the hollow shaft I2I is provided with an eccentric cam I25 contacting the butt end of the pin I23. By turning the shaft I24 by means of the knob K, eccentric cam I25 forces the pin I 23 outward, spreading the split ring I 22 and frictionally locking the drive shaft I2! and the diiferential casing iii together. The differential and both driving wheels then turn as if mounted on a single continuous shaft with no relative motion between them.

Suitable mechanism may be provided on the carriage or casing C for supporting and adjusting at least one blowpipe or similar tool, as shown generally in Fig. l, and in detail in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. This blowpipe supporting and adjusting mechanism may be mounted on a turret or turntable I30 which is rotatably mounted on the cover 20 of the casing C. The turntable I38 is supported on and within an annular member l3l having a flange I32 at its inner periphery and being secured to the casing C by suitable means,

such as screws I33, and is held in place by an annular plate I35 extending under the member I3! and secured to the turntable ISEl by suitable means, such as screws l35. The member I33 acts both as a thrust bearing and a guide for the turntable I38. table I33 may desirably comprise an eccentric cam I35 operated by means of a shaft ISlI and a lever I38. The eccentric cam I35 is housed in a recess in and turns with the turntable and may be caused to bind against the flange E32 of the stationary member ISI by turning the lever 38. The turntable may thus readily be rotated about a vertical axis and locked in any desired position.

The turntable I30 may be provided with a horizontal dovetail slide or groove I39 which slidably supports a cross arm E li One side of the groove I39 may be formed by a separate member lt l held in place by bolts M2 to permit ready assembling and to make possible adjustment of the width of the groove to compensate for wear. This adjustment may be made by means of bolts I43 which determine the lateral position of the member MI. The cross arm I l?) may be caused to slide longitudinally in the groove E39 by means of an externally threaded shaft l l l mounted at both ends in bearings in overhanging portions I 85 and I46 of the cross arm. The externally threaded shaft l l l cooperates with an internally threaded opening in a member It? which is rotatably mounted in an opening in the center of. the turntable I30 to avoid any binding through misalignment. The shaft l i l may be rotated by turning a handwheel Hie which is operatively connected to the shaft through a stem I55 mounted in a bearing in the cross arm and bevel gears I5I and I52. It is evident, then, that the cross arm Hill may be readily given angular motion by turning the turntable I36 and rectilinear motion in the direction of its length by turning the handwheel I49.

Mounted at one end of the cross arm I lil by means of a brace I53 and bolts I5& is a member I55 having a vertical dovetail guide or groove I56 therein for slidably supporting a dovetail slide I5! of a torch-supporting bracket denoted generally by I58 (Figs. 11 and 12). The vertical slide I5! may be provided with an internally threaded opening for receiving a threaded shaft I 59 mounted in a bearing in the member I55 and having secured thereto a handwheel I60. It

A locking device for the turn- Z 3;) t the bar. l'i'I.

is thus seen that by turning the handwheel I60 the bracket I58 may be easily raised or lowered, and the combination of the turntable I30 and the handwheels I 19 and I58 then furnishes a simple and convenient means for universally adjusting the bracket I58 and with it the blowpipe B without changing the direction or angle of the blowpipe.

The torch-supporting bracket I58 may preferably comprise two mutually perpendicular swivels so that the blowpipe B may be tilted at any angle in any direction. A bracket IE1 is rotatably mounted in a bearing in an extension I52 of the slide I51 and may be removably held in place by a bolt I63 and provided with a protractor I64 for indicating the degrees of angular rotation of the bracket. Rotatably mounted in a bearing in the bracket I5! with its axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the bracket is a split torch clamp I65 removably held in place by a bolt I 65 and provided with bolts I51 for clamping the blowpipe B in place. A protractor I58 may be provided for indicating the degrees of angular rotation of the clamp I55, and is preferably fixed to the bracket IEI so that it may serve for any clamp which it may be necessary to mount on the bracket according to the size of the blowpipe required for the particular cutting, welding, or flame machining operation to be performed. It is evident, then, that the blowpipe B may be slidably adjusted in the clamp I55 and angularly adjusted in two mutually perpendicular planes, and these adjustments furnish another and independent means for universally adjusting the blowpipe B.

In certain operations it may be desirable to mount another blowpipe on the cross arm I 50 which may be independently adjusted. This may conveniently be accomplished by means of an auxiliary cross arm I slidably mounted on a fiat bar I1I which may in turn be slidably and rotatably mounted on the cross arm MI The cross arm is provided with a T-shaped groove I12 in which slides and rotates a T-bolt I13 which passes through an opening in the bar HI and acts as a pivot for this bar. The T-bolt I13 may be slid along the groove I12, thus moving the axis of rotation of the bar I1I as well as the bar itself, which may be secured in any desired position by means of a nut I14. The bar I1I is preferably dovetail in cross section to provide a cooperating slide for a dovetail groove I15 in the auxiliary cross arm I 10, which may be caused to slide along the bar I1I by means of an externally threaded shaft I16 which is rotatably v in the bracket !11 and bevel gears 283 and I84.

It is thus evident that the auxiliary cross arm I'It may be given angular motion independent of the angular motion of the main cross arm I40 by turning the bar I'II about the T-bolt I13 and rectilinear motion independent of the rectilinear motion of the main cross arm either by moving the T-bolt in its groove I12 which moves the bar Il'i, or by turning the handwheel I8I which moves the auxiliary cross arm relatively Of course, the auxiliary cross arm, being mounted on the main cross arm, moves angularly with the main cross arm when the turntable I is rotated and rectilinearly with the main cross arm when the handwheel I49 is turned.

Mounted at one end of the auxiliary cross arm I13 by means of a brace I85 and bolts I86 is a vertical member or upright standard I81 having a vertical dovetail guide or groove I88 therein for slidably supporting a dovetail slide it of a torch-supporting bracket or arm denoted generally by ISO. The member I89 may be provided with an internally threaded opening for receiving a threaded shaft I9I mounted in a bearing in the member I81 and having secured thereto a handwheel I92. The torch-supporting bracket 2% may be precisely similar in construction to the torch-supporting bracket I58 and need not again be described. Thus the upright standard i331, which supports the arm I 90, is movable transversely by means of the handwheel I8I, and is journaled for pivotal movement with respect to the plate I by means of the bolt I13. It is clear then that by turning the handwheel I92 the bracket I90 may be vertically adjusted, and the combination of the pivot about the T-bolt I13 and the handwheels I 8 I and I92 thus furnishes a simple and convenient means independent of the adjustments for the bracket I58 and the blowpipe B for universally adjusting the bracket IE9 and with it the blowpipe B without changing the direction or angle of the blowpipe. Also, the blcwpipe B may be slidably adjusted in its clamp and angularly adjusted in two mutually perpendicular planes by means of the swivels of the bracket I90, and these adjustments provide a further independent means for universally adjusting the blowpipe B. Each of the blowpipes B and B is therefore capable of two separate independent universal adjustments, and may readily be positioned at opposite sides of the machine, or close together at either side of or in front of the machine, or in any position relative to each other at either side of or in front of the machine and in any desired direction and at any desired angle to the work W.

When only one blowpipe is needed, the auxiliary cross arm I10 may be easily dismounted from the main cross arm by removing the bar Ill from the T-bolt I13. The main cross arm I48 may then be provided with a cover plate I40 covering the T-groove I12 and having an opening therethrough for the T-bolt I13, as shown in Fig. 2.

It may be advantageous or desirable in certain instances to the machine perform operations below the surface of the work W on which the machine is traveling, as for example, the preparation of the edge of a plate for butt welding as shown in Fig. 3. This may conveniently be do by means of the special apparatus shown in A member 3 is secured by means of a bolt 2% to the slide I5? from which the bracket 553 has been removed by removing the bolt I63. Torch-supporting means may be mounted on the lber 593 through two mutually perpendicular els. Rotatably and removably mounted by eans cf bolt 95 in a bearing in the lower d of the member I93 is a right angle bracket for supporting a torch holder or split clamp which holds the blowpipe A protractor be provided for indicating the degrees angular rotation of the bracket 4%. The -p it! may be rotatably and removably mounted by means of a bolt I89 in a bearing in the bracket Iiit with its axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the bracket. A protractor 200 may be provided to indicate the degrees of angular rotation of the clamp I91, and is preferably mounted on the bracket IQB so that it will serve for any size clamp that may be necessary to hold a blowpipe suitable for the particular operation required. The blowpipe clamp It! together with its supporting bracket I96 may be precisely similar in construction to the clamp I65 and its supporting bracket I6! (Figs. 11 and 12) so that it is merely necessary to remove the bracket Nil from the slide I51, mount the member I 93 on the slide E51, and then mount the bracket I 6! at the lower end of the member I 93 to obtain the apparatus shown in Fig. 3. The member I93, and with it the blowpipe B, of course may be adjusted vertically by turning the handwheel Iliil, horizontally by turning the handwheel I49, and rotationally by turning the turntable I38. Also, the blowpipe B may be slidably adjusted in the clamp I8? and may be rotated in two mutually perpendicular planes. Hence, here again two independent means are provided for universally adjusting the blowpipe B, and it may be readily positioned below the surface of the work W on which the machine is traveling at either side of or in front of the machine and at any angle in any direction.

One or more supports for the hoses supplying oxygen, circulating ccxiling water, and acetylene or other fuel to the blowpipes B and B may desirably be provided on the machine. Such a support may conveniently comprise a bracket 28! secured to the bar III by means of the T-bolt I73 and nut Hi and having nipples 202 for receiving main supply lines l T (shown in skeleton in Fig. 1) and nipples 203 for receiving connecting lines N leading from the bracket ZIBI to the blowpipe. In such an arrangement, the main lines may remain connected to the bracket and it is then necessary only to change the connecting lines when another blowpipe is used. Of course, the lines N and N may be continuous, in which case the bracket ZQI would be provided with hose clamps instead of the nipples Hi2 and 203. The bracket 233i as shown is provided with nipples for oxygen and acetylene supply lines to each of the two blowpipes B and B. Since the bracket 20! is mounted on and moves with the main cross arm, the relative movement between the bracket and the blowpipes B and B is minimized, which minimizes the length and wear of the connecting lines N.

It should be noted that, as is evident from the foregoing description, all of the motor and drive mechanism is mounted on and within the base 2! of the casing C and all of the torch-supporting and adjusting mechanism is mounted on the cover 28 of the casing C, so that the machine comprises two independent and readily separable units. The only connections between the cover 23 and the base 2! besides the screws 3'! which hold the cover and base together are the switch S controlling the motor circuit and the shift levers L and L", all of which may be easily disconnested.

When the machine travels directly on the surface of the work to perform circular cutting, welding, or flame-machining operations, it may be guided by means of the guide or radius rod R as shown in Figs. 2 and 11. Referring to Fig. 11, the radius rod B may be adjustably held by a center comprising a pointed support 285 and a weight 296 mounted on the support 205. The radius rod slides in an opening through the weight 286 and may be adjusted to any desired length from the center and clamped by a thumb screw 201. The weight 2% is preferably slidably mounted on the support 295 and may be held at any desired elevation by a thumb screw 238. Thus, the radius rod It may be readily adjusted to the proper length and height. Of course, the support 205 and weight 286 may be made integral, in which case there would be no vertical adjustment.

The radius rod B may be attached to the lug 25 of the casing C preferably by the yoke shown in Fig. 13. The yoke comprises a fork 208 whose prongs straddle the lug 25 and are spaced from the machined edges 26 thereof. One prong of the fork 289 is provided with a pin 2H1 secured in an opening through the prong and having a head 2i I provided with a tapered edge adapted to engage a beveled edge of the opening 21 through the lug 25. In the other prong opposite the pin 2H] and axially in line with it is an internally threaded opening into which is screwed a bolt 2l2 provided with a knurled head 2I3 for finger operation and a lock nut 2M. The end of the bolt ZIZ is provided with a tapered edge adapted to en- T gage a beveled edge of the opening 27 through the lug 25. In attaching the radius rod, the bolt 2 I Z is backed off until the fork 2B9 passes over the lug 25. The fork is then so positioned that the tapered edge of the head 2II of pin 2H] engages one beveled edge of the opening 25, after which the bolt 212 is screwed in until the tapered edge of its end engages the other beveled edge of the opening 25 and locked with the lock nut 2M. This construction provides a yoke which makes the radius rod R free floating in a vertical plane to compensate for unevenness in the surface of the work but nevertheless rigid in a horizontal plane so that the rod is kept perpendicular to the line of travel of the machine.

When the machine travels directly on the sur-- face of the work, it may be desirable in certain instances to provide means associated with the machine for automatically guiding it along any predetermined rectilinear or curvilinear path.

Such means may comprise a special guide bracket E which follows along a single track or template T as shown in Figs. 14, 15, and 16, or a special guide bracket E which follows along a single track or template T" as shown in Figs. 17, 18, and 19. Referring to Figs. 14, 15, and 16, the bracket E may comprise two curved vertical members 2I5 and 2 I6 adapted to fit on each side of the lug 25 on the upper member 2! of the easing C and a flat horizontal member 2I'I rigidly secured to the vertical members H5 and 2I6 by suitable means such as welding. The bracket E may be rigidly but removably secured to the casing 0 of the machine by a bolt 2 I8 and a cooperating nut 2I9 and by clamps 220 and 22L The bolt 2I8 passes through openings in the members 2I5 and H6 and through the opening 21 in the lug 25 and with its cooperating nut 2I9 securely clamps the members to the lug. The clamps 2233 and 22I may be rigidly secured to the member 2H and may be adapted to book under the hollow boss 23 of the upper member 2I of the casing C. Bolts '22 and 223 screwing through internally threaded openings in the member 2 I! and bearing against the hollow boss 23 may be provided for securely clamping the clamps 220 and HI to the boss. There is thus provided a rigid three-point support for the bracket E on the casing C of the machine.

The guide bracket E may be provided with two swiveled roller followers mounted at either end of the member 2 il in the manner shown in Fig. 16. A member 22s is fixed to a shaft 225 which is rtatably mounted in a bearing in the member 211. Mounted in openings at either end of the member 22% are shafts 226 and 22! on which rollers or wheels 228 and 229 are rotatably mounted. The ."heels 223 229; are so positioned that one follows one side and the other the other side of the template In order to adjust the spacing of these wheels to varying widths of templates, the it may be held in a split clamp and may be provided with an eccentric portion on which the wheel 228 is mounted. One end of the memher 223 be split to provide the split clamp tightened by a bolt 236. By loosening the bolt and turning the shaft 226, the wheel 228 may be adjusted to the width of the template T. The roller followers are swiveled to minimize binding and to facilitate directing the guide bracket around or along the curves of the template.

The guide bracket E shown in Figs. 17, 18, and 19 following along the template T" is another embodiment of means for automatically guiding the nachine along any predetermined rectilinear or curvilinear path when it travels directly on the surface of the Work W in accordance with this invention. This bracket is vertically adjustable to various heights of templates as well as lateraladjustable to various widths of templates. The bracket compri es a vertical member 23! removably secured to the casing C of the machine horizontal member 232 mounted on the member 3! and vertically slidable thereon. The r -ember 23! is provided with a slotted projection snugly fitting over the machined edges 26 of the 25 and having an opening therethrough coax-rial with the opening through the lug for receiving a securing bolt 23A and nut 235. A clamp secured to the lower end of the member 23! and adapted to hook under the hollow boss 23 of the cover 20 of the casing is held tightly against the hollow boss by the pressure of fiat springs 23's and 238 secured to the member 231 by any suitable means, such as screws 239. In mounting the bracket on the casing, the clamp 23% first hooked under the hollow boss 23 and the member 235 is then pushed into place over the lug against the pressure of springs 23'! until the openings through the lug and projection 233 coincide, after which the bolt 234 is inserted and secured with the nut 235. The member 233 may be provided with vertical guides and Z il and a slot 242 for receiving a T-bolt 3 having a securing nut 244. The member 232 be provided with grooves slidably cooperatvith the guides 25.5 and 26! and an opening thi. ough which the shank of the T-bolt 243 passes. t is thus evident that the member 232 be raised or lowered relatively to the member 3% by sliding the T-bolt 2-33 in the groove 242 and may be secured in any desired position by tightening the nut 24 This provides a simple mea. s for quickly adjusting the bracket E vertically to v ous heights of templates.

The horizontal member 232 of the bracket E is provided at both ends with outwardly extendprojections 2 -5 and 34b in which are mounted s t iveled roller followers having adjustably spaced rollers. This construction may be preiilar to that shown in Fig. 16 and need am described.

The guide brackets shown make possible mainta ring the machine at all times substantially perpendicular to the curve of the template. For

curves of slight curvature, the blowpipe will very closely reproduce the curve of the template, and for curves of great curvature, although the blowpipe does not accurately reproduce the curve of the tempiate, the guide bracket is also of utility since it merely necessary to make a template which will produce the desired curve, and the template may then be used to guide the machine for number of repeated operations.

It will, of course, be appreciated that certain changes and substitutions may be made in the "angement of parts and construction of the novel machine herein described without departing from the principles or scope of this invention as set forth i the appended claims.

What is claim i interfitting aid base having an a continuous with a to. base, a partition in said the edge 05 the edge with be edge -d cover anti abutting the d base, and means for sebase to form a dust-proof iachin supporting a cutting or welding blonplpe or sir -ilar tool, a box-like cassupport by wi and comprising a base having upwardl; extending side walls and a part tion extendsaid side walls to form a at least one of the cc part-"nents being s ly fluid-tight as to h icant, at least one of the 'Jith a vent for admi Thing side side walls of said cover iori'nlz'ig tion a fluic tight cc otor in the part1? r ssie; tight compartment and c power from said motor to at to telescope ever the c said base.

remitleast one the fo supportng a flat ing or 'el and capable of or on the surface of the work, front normally ork surface, deans carriage near the rec said rear wl slidably riage when. said. or t e work.

mach' weld) in said cas front wheels; tial associated for re der ng facilit v Univ when it travels 5. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool and capable of traveling on a track or on the surface of the work, a carriage having front wheels adapted to run on a track or on the surface of the work and rear wheels adapted to run on a track, means in said carriage for driving at least one of said front wheels, and means including a skid ior rendering said rear wheels inoperative and for slidably supporting the rear end of said carriage when said machine travels on the surface of the work.

6. A cutting and welding machine comprising a carriage supported by wheels; means on said carriage for supporting at least one cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool; a motor in said carriage; means including speed change gears and a combination neutral, forward, and reverse mechanism associated with said speed change gears for transmitting power from said motor to at least one of said wheels; and adjustable centrifugal governing means associated with said motor for maintaining the speed of said carriage at a predetermined rate.

7. A cutting and welding machine comprising a carriage supported by wheels, means on said carriage for supporting at least one cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool, a motor in said carriage, means for transmitting power from said motor to at least one of said wheels, and means including an adjustable centrifugal speed governing device on said motor and speed change gears forming part of said power-transmitting means for causing said machine to travel at any predetermined speed.

8. A cutting and welding machine comprising a carriage supported by wheels, means on said carriage for supporting at least one cutting or welding biowpipe or similar tool, a motor in said carriage, means for cooling said motor, means for transmitting power from said motor to at least one of said wheels, and means including an adjustable centrifugal speed governing device on said motor and speed change gears forming part of said power-transmitting means for causing said machine to travel at any predetermined speed.

9. A cutting and welding machine comprising a carriage supported by Wheels, means on said carriage for supporting at least one cutting or Welding blowpipe or similar tool, axle means in said carriage connected to and driving two of said wheels, a motor in said carriage, means in said carriage for transmitting power from said motor to said axle,mechanism associatedwith said power transmitting means for allowing one of said driven wheels to move relatively to the other while delivering power to both, and means including a member extending through said axle for inhibitin such relative movement.

10. A cutting and welding machine comprising a carriage supported 'by wheels, means on said carriage for supporting at least one cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool, a motor in said carriage, an axle in said carriage connected to and driving two of said wheels, gear means in said carriage for transmitting power from said motor to said axle, a difierential associated with and forming part of said axle, and means including a member extending through said axle and projecting from the end of said axle for locking said difierential.

11. In a cutting and welding machine, a carriage, a cross arm rotatably mounted on said carriage, said arm being immovable vertically, mechanism on said cross arm for moving it in movable thereon for supporting at least one the direction of its length, and means including a member mounted on said cross arm vertically outsaid said ting or welding blowpipe or similar tool, blowpipe being universally adjustable on member.

12. In a cutting and welding machine, a carriage, a cross arm mounted on said carriage, said arm being vertically immovable, at least one bracket mounted on said cross arm, means forming part of said bracket for supporting a blowpipe, means for universally adjusting said bracket, and means independent of said bracket-adjusting means for universally adjusting said blowpipe.

13. In a cutting and welding machine, a carriage, a cross arm rotatably mounted on said carriage, said arm being slidable along its length and vertically immovable, means for mounting at least two brackets on said cross arm, means forming part of said brackets for supporting blowpipes, means for independently universally adjusting each of said brackets, and means independent of said bracket-adjusting means for independently universally adjusting each of said blowpipes.

14. In a cutting and welding machine, a carriage, a cross arm slidably and rotatably mounted on said carriage, said cross arm being vertically immovable, means for slidably mounting at least one bracket on said cross arm, means for vertically adjusting said bracket; means forming part of said bracket for supporting a blowpipe, and means for rotating said blowpipe in two mutually perpendicular planes.

15. In a cutting and welding machine, a carriage. a turntable adjustable about a vertical axis mounted on said carriage, a cross arm mounted on said turntable and immovable in a vertical plane, means on said cross arm for mounting at least one blowpipe, and means for universally adjusting said blowpipe.

' 16. In a cutting and welding machine, a carriage supported by wheels, a turntable adjustable about a vertical axis mounted on said carriage, means for locking said turntable in any position, a cross arm slidably mounted on said turn-table and vertically immovable thereon, means for adjusting said cross arm in the direction of its length, means on said cross army for mounting at least one blowpipe, and means for universally adjusting said blowpipe.

17. In a cutting and welding machine, a carriage supported by wheels, a turntable rotatable in a horizontal plane mounted on said carriage and having a groove, a cross arm slidably mounted in the groove and immovable in a Vertical plane, means for adjusting the width of said groove, means on said cross arm for mounting at least one blowpipe, and means for universally adjusting said blowpipe.

18. In a cutting and welding machine, a carriage, means on said carriage for mounting a cross arm, means for adjusting said cross arm in the direction of its length and about a vertical axis, means on said cross arm for supporting a blowpipe, means on said cross arm for mounting an means for adjusting said cross arm in the direction of its length, means on said cross arm for supporting a blowpipe, an auxiliary cross arm, means on said cross arm for mounting said auxiliary cross arm, means for adjusting said auxiliary cross arm in the direction of its length and about a vertical axis independently of said main cross arm, means for changing the position of said last-mentioned vertical axis, means on said auxiliary cross arm for mounting a blowpipe, and

' means for rotating each of said blowpipes in two mutually perpendicular planes.

20. In a cutting and welding machine capable of traveling on a track or on the surface of the work, a carriage supported by wheels, a cross arm rotatably mounted on said carriage, means associated with said cross arm for so mounting at least one blowpipe thereon as to suspend said blowpipe below the surface of the work on which said machine is traveling, and means for universally adjusting said blowpipe.

21. In a machine for supporting a cutting or Welding blowpipe, the combination of a carriage supported by wheels, a cross arm mounted on said carriage, an auxiliary cross arm pivotally secured to said cross arm, and means at the end of said auxiliary cross arm for supporting a blowpipe.

22. In a cutting and Welding machine capable of traveling on a track or on the surface of the work, a carriage supported by wheels, a substantially horizontal turntable rotatably mounted on said carriage, a cross arm slidably mounted on said turntable, means for adjusting said cross arm in the direction of its length, means on said cross arm for slidably mounting a bracket, means for vertically adjusting said bracket, means associated with said bracket for so mounting a blowpipe thereon as to suspend said blowpipe below the surface of the work on which said machine is traveling, and means for rotating said blowpipe in two mutually perpendicular planes.

23. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool, the combination of a carriage, a cross arm slidably and rotatably mounted on said carriage, means for mounting at least one blowpipe on said cross arm, lines for supplying gas to said blowpipe, and means mounted on said cross arm for supporting said gas supply lines.

2 1-. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool, the combination of a carriage, a cross arm slidably and rotatably mounted on said carriage, means for mounting at least two blowpipes on said cross arm, means 1" or independently universally adjusting said blowpipes, lines for supplying gas to said blowpipes, and a bracket mounted on said cross arm for supporting said gas supply lines.

25. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding torch or similar tool and capable of traveling on a track or on the surface or the work, the combination of a carriage supported by wheels, means in said carriage for driving at least one of said wheels, a guide rod, and means for so connecting said guide rod to said carriage as to permit relative angular motion in a vertical plane but in no other plane between said rod and said carriage.

26. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding torch or similar tool and capable of traveling on the surface of the work, the combination of a box-like casing supported by wheels comprising a base and a cover interfitting with and telescoping over said base to form an overhanging apron around said base, means in said casing for driving at least one of said wheels, guide means adapted to follow along a single track or template, and means including a lug on said casing and a clamp around said apron for rigidly but removably securing said guide means to said casing.

27. In portable apparatus for cutting or welding metals, the combination of a casing comprising a box-like base and a cover therefor; toolholding means carried by said casing; a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, all rotatably connected to said base to support said casing; a drive motor mounted Within the rear end of said base; means outside the rear end of the base for varying the speed of said motor; mechanism inside said base for transmitting power from said motor to one or both of said front wheels to propel said casing, said mechanism comprising: a differential associated with both front wheels, speed reducing gearing, and neutral, forward, and reversing mechanism; means operable from the exterior of said casing to lock said differential so as to cause both front wheels to rotate in unison at the same speed; and meansoperable from the exterior of said casing for controlling said speed reducing gearing, and said neutral, forward, and reversing mechanism.

28. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool, a box-like casing comprising a base having upwardly projecting side walls and a cover telescoping over the walls of said base; wheels rotatably mounted directly on said base; and means for detachably securing said cover to said base.

29. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool, a carriage comprising a box-like base and a box-like cover telescoping over and interfitting with the top edge of said base to form a substantially fluid-tight casing, wheels rotatably mounted directly on said base, means in said box-like base for driving at least one of said wheels, and means for removably securing said cover to said base.

30. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool, a box-like casing supported by wheels and comprising a boxlike substantially fluid-tight base and a cover telescoping over and interfitting with said base, power-supplying means in said casing, transmission means in said substantially fluid-tight base for transmitting power from said power-supplying means to at least one of said wheels, said casing having formed therein when said cover is in position a ventilated compartment for housing said power-supplying means and a substantially fluid-tight compartment for housing said powertransmitting means and for containing a liquid lubricant, and means for removably securing said cover to said base.

31. In a cutting and welding machine, a boxlike carriage comprising a base and a cover, said cover being adapted to be removably secured to said base and to cooperate therewith to form a substantially enclosed casing having ventilated compartment and a virtually fluid-tight compartment for containing lubricant formed therein, a motor mounted on said base and housed within said ventilated compartment, wheels r0- tatably mounted directly on said base mechanism mounted on said base and housed within said lubricant-containing compartment for transmitting power from said motor to at least one of said wheels, and mechanism mounted on said cover for supporting and adjusting at least one blowpipe or similar tool.

32. In a cutting or welding machine, a carriage supported by at least four wheels, a cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool mounted on said carriage, and means including a pivotally mounted eccentric shaft for vertically adjusting one of said wheels with respect to the remaining three wheels to insure the distribution of the weight of the machine on all four of said supporting wheels.

33. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool and capable of traveling on the surface of the work, a carriage having front and rear wheels, means in said carriage for driving at least one of said front wheels, and additional supporting means for supporting said carriage with said rear wheels out of operative engagement with the surface of the work, said additional supporting means being free for movement universally over the surface of the work.

34. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool and capable of traveling on the surface of the work, a carriage having two front wheels adapted to run on the surface of the work and two rear wheels adapted to run on the surface of the work, means in said carriage for driving at least one of said front wheels, and adjustable supporting means adapted to be mounted on said machine for raising said two rear wheels out of operative engagement with the surface of the work, said supporting means being free to move over the surface of the work and being coactive with said two front wheels to provide three-point support for said machine.

35. A cutting and welding machine comprising a carriage supported by wheels; means on said carriage for supporting at least one cutting or welding blowpipe or similar tool; said carriage comprising a casing including a box-like base and a detachable cover adapted, when assembled, to form several compartments, one of which is sufficiently fluid-tight to contain oil; a motor disposed in one of the compartments; means including speed change gears and a combination neutral, forward and reverse mechanism disposed in the substantially fluid-tight and oil-containing compartment and operatively supported by the walls of said base for transmitting power from said motor to at least one of said wheels; means including a lever external of said casing for shifting said speed change gears and holding J them in their shifted position; and means including a lever external of said casing for shifting said combination neutral, forward, and reverse mechanism and holding it in the neutral, forward, or reverse position.

36. In a machine for supporting a cutting or welding torch or similar tool and capable of traveling on the surface of the work, the combination of a carriage supported by wheels, means in said carriage for driving at least one of said wheels, a guide member adapted to be supported on the surface of the work, a guide bracket secured to said carriage and extending laterally therefrom, a member pivotally mounted on said bracket to swing about a substantially vertical axis, and rollers rotatably mounted on said member adapted to cooperate with said guide member for causing the machine to follow a rectilinear or curvilinear path dependent upon the shape of said guide member.

JAIVLES H. BUCKNAM. ALFRED J. MILLER. 

